HOBOKEN, N.J., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Here’s another myth you can cross off your list of sexist terms: Women don’t like to box.

Women are donning boxing gloves and kicking up a storm, according to Joseph Andreula, president of CKO Kickboxing, one of the hottest franchises in America, according to Entrepreneur Magazine.

“Kickboxing is actually a safe exercise if you train in the right place and with the right people,” said Andreula, who founded CKO Kickboxing in Hoboken, NJ in 1997 and has grown the franchise to 26 locations in the tri-state area. “It also is the fastest way to burn 1,000 calories in an hour. That’s why so many women are joining. They know it is fast, fun and safe.”

Women of all ages are asking “What is kickboxing^[1]?” and they find out that kickboxing is a great way to lose weight, build muscle and gain confidence.

But first, women need to overcome their fear of intimidation of what has traditionally been a man’s activity.

“For months I would drive by or stare through the window but was too intimidated to join,” said Tricia Rumsey, a member of CKO Kickboxing in Franklin, NJ. “Finally a friend and I decided to take our Free Trial Class in December 2010 and joined the next day. The instructors are the best I have ever seen. They help you, encourage you and keep you motivated to keep on going. I am down 47 pounds and feel great. I have finally found what works for me and I know CKO Kickboxing will be a part of my life for a long time to come.”

Women who want to lose baby weight^[2] are also joining the kickboxing craze.

“My weight loss journey started after the birth of my third child in 2009. My goal was to lose 50 pounds. I found it hard to believe at first that you could burn up to 1,000 calories in one hour, so I tried a class – and after barely keeping up in that class, I realized this was the intensity and diversity I needed so I joined the same day. I lost the 50 lbs, gained muscle and confidence, trained to become and instructor and later bought the Franklin location with my husband. CKO Kickboxing is not just a workout; it is a way of life!” said Darlene Pallay, owner of the CKO Kickboxing franchise in Franklin, N.J.